doug-lass



2 Sheets- Sheet 1..

(No. Model.)

' S. W. DOUGLASS.

'WATER SWIVEL POR DRLILLING- APPARATUS.

Patented May 3, 1892.

iIAgAA um im l m l lu nu nu @0i/1244050: 2 if" a@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL IV. DOUGLASS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MILAN C.

BULLOCK, OF SAME PLACE.

WATER-SWIVEL FOR DRILLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,918, dated Application tiled January Z8, 1891. Serial No. 379,397. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. DoUGLAss, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVater-Swivels for Drilling Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had Vto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which a form part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel construetion in rockdrilling or earth boring apparatus, and more especially to that class of such apparatus having an annular revolving cutting-head acting by attrition.

The invention relates more particularly to a novel construction and arrangement of the apparatus for securing a continuous flow of water under pressure through the drill-rod and outside the same between it and the walls of the hole in either direction and at all times, so that the said flow ot' water underpressure can be maintained when the core-barrel is being drawn up for the removal of pieces of the rock-core or when it is found necessary to lengthen the drill-rod by the addition of a length or section to the same or in other circumstances where it is usually necessary to discontinue the flow of water.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation of a derrick and engine employed for well-drilling provided with devices embodying my invention and shown partly in section, said devices comprising, essentially, an upper and a lower water-swivel having suit-able pipes and passages and communicating with a source for supplying water under pressure. Fig. 2 is a detail side view, partly in vertical section and on an enlarged scale, of the Lipper Water-swivel. Fig. 3 is a detail view in central vertical section of the lower water-swivel.

In said drawings, A indicates a derrick of the ordinary construction, which is used for supporting` well-drillin g devices.

A indicates a drill-actuating machine located near the bottom of the derrick and provided with a drive-spindle a for driving and turning the drill-rod and having also auxiliary spindles a c', which are connected with May 3,1892.

and adapted to feed forward a casing-tube A3 and which are provided at their lower ends with gear-pinions a2 u2, engaging gear-teeth a3 on a chuck a4, attached to the top of the casing-tube for giving rotary motion to said casing-tube.

I contemplate using any desired form of drill-actuating machine, but have shown in the drawings a preferred form, which is more fully shown and described in Letters Patent No. 443,750, dated December 30, 1890. The said machine is also provided with suitable hoisting-drums, hereinafter referred to.

A3 indicates a force-pump located near the bottom of the derrick A and provided with a pipe a5, which may be used for supplying water under pressure to the casing-tube, and a suction-pipe a to keep the shaft A4 clear of water, such shaft being sunk under the derrick to facilitate the handling of the casingtube sections.

A5 indicates the upper portion of a tubular drill-rod, which is connected with the drivespindle ct. The upper end of said drill-rod is provided with a coupling al, hereinafter referred to.

B indicates as a whole a water-swivel, which is adapted for attachment to the upper end of the drill-rod, and is connected by means of hose Z) and pipe b with the force-pump A3, whereby water under pressure can be .supplied to said drill-rod during the rotation of the latter. A stop-cock Z22, arranged in said pipe, enables the flow of water therein to be regulated as desired. The said water-swivel B comprises, Fig. 3, a barrelB, having a lateral inlet-port B2 located at a point between its ends, with which the hose b is connected, and with a transverse plug-valve B3, the' said valve being of proper size to admit a drill-rod when the valve is open.

C is a tube adapted to turn in the barrel B and connected by a water-tight joint therewith, said tube being attached by means of a.

chuck D t0 the drill-rod A5 and constructed to allow the free fiow of water from the inlet B2 to the drill-rod when the latter is turning. The details ot construction in these parts will be hereinafter described.

E is a second or upper water-swivel, which is generally like the Water-swivel B, and com- IOO prises a barrel E', having a gland E2 at its upper end, a water-inlet E3, and a plug-valve E4 between the water-inlet and the gland.

F is a tube adapted to turn in the barrel E and connected by a water-tight joint therewith, said tube being made of considerable length and of the same external size as the drill-rod A2. At its lower end said tube F is provided with screw-th reads f or other means for attaching it with a water-tight joint to a section of the drill-rod. The water-inlet E3 is connected by means of a hose e and pipe e with the water-supply pipe b', said pipe having a stop-cock e2.

G is a tubular cap or sleeve provided with a gland or packing G. The said sleeve is adapted to fit and slide upon the drill-rod sections and the tube F, and is constructed for attachment to the upper end of the barrel B of the lower swivel, preferably by means of a screw-joint. H is a plug, which is inserted in and closes the top of said barrel B during the operation of the drilling` apparatus, the sleeve G being connected with said barrel only at the time of inserting a drill-rod or removing a section of the rock core formed by the drill.

I is a rope attached to the plug H, passing over a pulley I at the top of the derrick and attached to a counter-balance I2. Said weight serves to counteract the gravity of the line of drill-rods and takes a part of the weight of the same from the feed devices of the drillactuating machine.

J is a rope attached to and sustaining the upper water-swivel, said rope being attached to a yokej upon the swivel and passing over a pulley J and thence downwardly to the i detritus therefrom hoisting-drum of the machine A.

K is a rope passing through the upper waterswivel E and the gland E2 thereof and over a pulley K in the yoke j to the winding-drum of the machine A. Attached to the end of the rope within the tube F is an automatically-acting grapple or implement L, known as a harpoom for engaging and lifting a core-barrel or other tool or object through the hollow drill-rod.

In the operation of drilling, water for lubricating the cutting-head and removing iiows from the hose b through the lower water-swivel B downwardly through the drill-rod, to the upper end of which said water-swivel is attached. To attach a new section of drill-rod a section A( lo f drill-tube is attached to the tube F, the plug` l-I is removed from the lower waterswivel, the end of the drill-tube section A6 is inserted in the top of the barrel B of said lower water-swivel, and the sleeve G then slipped down over the tube F and the drilltube section AG and secured to the top of said barrel. The water is then allowed to iiow into the upper water-swivel, after which the valve B3 of the lower swivel is opened, allowing the water to flow from the upper waterswivel downwardly through the tube F, the

drill-rod section A, and the lower water-swivel into the drill-rod A5. The upper water-swivel is then lowered until the lower end of the drill-rod section A6 comes in contact with the coupling a7, when the said section is turned or rotated by the use of pipe-tongs or otherwise until a tight joint is made with the drillrod A5. The chuck Dis then released from the drill-rod A5, and the lower water-swivel slipped downwardly over the drill-rod section AG until the upper end thereof is below the valve B2 and is in the same position as the top of the drill-rod A5 as shown in the draw-` ings. The chuck is then tightened on the drill-rod section and the tube F unscrewed therefrom, after which the latter is pulled upwardly through the sleeve G until above the valve B3. As soon as the said tube F is disconnected from the drill-rod section water will flow from the hose b through the lower water-swivel into the drill-rod and the valve B3 may be closed, the'flow of water thus being continuous throughout the entire operation of inserting the new drill-rod section. After the valve B3 is closed the sleeve G is disconnected from the lower water-swivel and the tube F, with the sleeve thereon, is swung to one side and the plug H again inserted.

If a core-barrel or any other object is to be removed during the insertion of a drill-rod section, the harpoon L, with the object attached is lifted through the drill-tube and into the tube F, when saidtube F is connected with the lower water-swivel, said object being removed from the tube F after the latter has been detached from the water-swivel and swung to one side of the same. In case it is desired to remove a rock core or other object at other time than when a drill-rod section is being inserted, the tube F is inserted in the lower water-swivel, the core-barrel or other object is drawn upwardly into the said tube F, and the latter then withdrawn from the water-swivel without stopping the flow of water through the drill-rod, as above described.

The details of construction in the several parts above mentioned will now be more particularly described.

To first refer to the construction of the ,tol

III

lower water-swivel B, the barrel B of said water-swivel at either side of the valve-plug B3 is madein interiordiameter slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the drill-rod, and the portof the valve-plug is of about the same diameter as said barrel, so that the drillrod can freely pass through said barrel and the valve-port. Ata point within the barrel adjacent to the inlet-port B2 is formed an annular enlargement or chamber B4, with which said inlet-port communicates. The tube Gis fitted and adapted to turn in the barrel B and forms the rotating part or member of the water-swivel, the joint between the barrel B and tube C being packed to make it watertight and also provided with an anti-friction thrust-bearing to lessen the friction when a part of the weight of the drill-rod is sustained i by the swivel-head, as is commonly the case in the operation of the apparatus. The joint Vbetween said parts B and C is constructed in detail as follows: The upper end of the said tube C is adapted to it and turn within annular bearing-surfaces b3 b4 above and below the chamber B4,the tube being providedwith openings or ports c in its part within the chamber to allow the free passage of water from the chamber to the interior of the tube. Below the lower bearing-surface b4 the tube is provided with an external annular ilange c', which is located within the tubular lower part B5 of the barrel, which part B5 is made considerably larger in internal diameter than the exterior of the tube.

C is a sleeve or ring inserted in the lower end of the part of the barrel and the upper end of which 'forms an upwardly-facing shoulder c2, opposed to the iiange c and adapted to take the end-thrust of the tube C Vunder the weight ofthe drill-rod attached thereto. Between the said shoulder c2 and the flange c is located a series of anti-friction balls or rollers c3 c3, bearing-rings c4 c4 being placed between the said shoulder and flange and the balls to take the wear of the same. In the particularconstruction shown the ring C is screw-threaded exteriorly and engages an interior screw-thread on the tubular part B5 of the barrel. Y

A packing box or gland to make a tight joint between the barrel and the tube C is made as follows: The ring C tits closely againstV the tube C at its upper end, but is recessed in its lower part to contain a packing C5, which is held in place by aring G6, having screw-threaded engagement with the ring C', in the manner shown. i j

The chuck D is connected with the lower end of the stem C by means of a screw-threaded joint. A packing-gland d, to make a watertight joint between the drill-rod and the tube C, is formed by means of an annular recess in the body D otl the chuck, said recess being closed by a ring d', inserted in said recess and having screw-threaded connection with the side walls of the same. Said ring CZ is provided with Spanner-holes for the insertion of a spanner or suitable tool to turn the same, the coupling being provided with slots or openings d2 adjacent to said ring, through which said tool may be inserted.

In the lower end of the chuck D is formed a recess d3, in which is placed a plurality of blocks d4 d4, constituting the jaws of the chuck and having roughened or serrated inner faces adapted to bear against the drill-rod. Said blocks are clamped against the drill-rod by means of set-screws d5 The said blocks d* d4 are held in place by means of two rings CZ and di, located above and below the same, the ring d being arranged to bear against a shoulder formed at the upper end of the recess cl3, while the ring d? is held in place by screwthreaded engagement with the' lower part of the chuck.

The plug H in the upper end of the barrel B is conveniently provided with an eye N to engage a hook 'L' upon the counterbalance-rope I. The said counter-balance, as herein shown, comprises a tank or receptacle, which is adapted to be illed with water by means of a pipe b, communicating at one end with said tank and at its other end with the forcepump.

Is is an overflow-pipe passing through a gland ItL in the bottom of the tank and upwardly within the same. The said pipe is provided with a liange or suitable lateral proj ections t" i', through which pass headed bolts 2 i2, secured to the tank at their upper ends. The said bolts are provided with nuts to raise or lower the upper open end of said overflowpipe l3 within the tank to regulate the amount of water to be contained therein.

The upper water-swivel E is similar in construction to the lower water-swivel,but smaller in dimensions. The parts of the lower part of said upper Water-swivel from the valve E4 to the bottom of the barrel E are like the corresponding parts of the lower water-swivel B, and need not be herein described in detail. Forming the upper part of the barrel E is a head or plug E5, having a small central opening e4 for the passage of the rope K. The said plug E5 is provided at its upper end with a journal-bearing e5, around which is placed a hub j', to which is attached the yokej, said hub being held in place by nuts c7 e7. This construction affords a swivel-joint between the upper water-swivel and the yoke j, by which it is supported. The upper end portion of the central opening e4 of the plug E3 is enlarged and screw-threaded. The packing-gland E2 is made in the upper end of the plug E5 and forms a tight `joint to prevent leakage of water around the rope. The tube F is made of considerable length in order to contain the lifting tool or harpoon and an object-such as a core-barrel-attached thereto. For the purpose of inserting the drill-rod sections said tube F need be only long enough to pass inwardly through the lower waterswivel a sufficient distance to reach the top end of a drill-tube engaged therewith.

The said harpoon L above referred to is of a construction similar to that shown and Idescribed in an application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 278,571, tiled by Milan C. Bullock in the United States Patent Oftlce June 29, 1888, and is adapted to be used in connection with the method of removing t-he rock cores cut by an annular revolving cutting-head, which is claimed in another application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 278,572, tiled by the same applicant of even date with said application for the apparatus, said method consisting, essentially, in removing the core-barrel and attached core upwardly through the drillrod.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the parts above `described in the positions they will occupy during the operation ot' drilling. In said ligure IOO IIO

counterbalance-weight.

the lower water-swivel B is shown as connected with the upper end of the drill-rod and the plug H as inserted in the upper end of the water-swivel and connected with the counterbalance-weight. The upper water-swivel and harpoon are supported as described, but swing to one side, so as not to interfere with the operation of the other parts in drilling. The stop-cock b2 is open to admit water to the lower water-swivel, from whence it passes down within the drill-rod to supply the cutting-head. The stop-cock B3 of the w'atenswivel is closed and also the stop-cock c2, which regulates the flow of water to the upper water-swivel.

. /Vhen it is desired to add a section to the line of drill-rods, the lower water-swivel connected with the upper end of the drill-rodbeing near the lower limit of its movement, the rope I is first detached from the plug I-I and suitably attached to the derrick to sustain the The plug H is then removed. The section of drill-rod AG is then attached to the lower end of the tube F. The

- latter is then hoisted and swunglaterally into position above the lower water-swivel and lowered until its end enters the upper end thereof, after which the drill-rod sections are connected, as hereinbefore described. During this operation the drill-rod commonly continues to revolve; but it is preferable to allow it to revolve slowly, except when the sections are being secured together, when the drill-rod is stopped. The tube F turns in the upper water-swivel as soon as the sections of the drill-rod are connected. As soon as said connection is made the clutch-blocks d4 d4 are loosened by unscrewing the set screws d5, and

-the chuck D and lower water-swivel are slid upwardly over the added section of the drillrod until they reach the upper end thereof and stand in the same relative position that they bore to the upper end of the drill-rod A5. The clutch-blocks are then tightened tosecurely hold the said parts in position, and the tube F is then uuscrewed from connection wit-h the drill-rod section and is raised until its lower end is above the valve B3. The stopcocks e2 and valve EL are then closed and the stop-cock b2 opened, which directs the flow of water through the hose into the lower waterswivel, as hereinbefore described. The sleeve is then unscrewed from the upper end of the said lower water-swivel and the pipe-section F hoisted out of the same, carrying with it the said sleeve, and is swung to one side. The plug is then replaced, the rope I connected therewith, and the drilling is continued until the drill-rod is advanced the length of another drill-rod section.

During the drilling operation the gravity of the counterbalance-weight may be changed, as desired, by lowering the overflow-pipe to let the water escape from the tank or by pumping more water into the same, so as to maintain an approximately equal load on the machine without regard to the length and weight of the drill-rod-as, for instance, when the drilling iirst begins the weight of the drill-rod is so slight that the forward feed thereof is accomplished mainly by the machine and the counterbalance-weight will not be in use. Later the resistance in cutting will balance the weight of the rod and the machine will have no strain thereon. After the drill-rod becomes so long that its weight is more than sufficient to produce the forward feed of the cutting-tool the feed device of the machine will act to check or hold back the rod and the counterbalance-weight comes into play, andl the same may be made heavier by the introduction of more water as the length and weight of the drill-rod increases, so as to maintain a practical constant load on the machine.

l/Vhen it is desired to remove a detached section of rock-core cut by the apparatus, the tube F is connected with the upper end of the drill-rod in the same manner above described in connecting a new section of drill-rod therewith, and the flow of water is sent through the upper water-swivel and the said tube F. The harpoon L, suspended by the rope K within said pipe-section, is then lowered downwardly through the drill-rod to the core-barrel, which, with the core thereon, may be brought up into the tube F. The said tube is disconnected from the upper end of the drill-rod and swung to one side, as before described, and the core removed from the core-barrel. The tube is then swung back and connected with the upper end of the drill-rod in the manner before described, the core-barrel lowered into position, and the harpoon detached therefrom and brought up within the pipe-section, which is then disconnected from the drill-rod, swung to one side, and the drilling operation resumed, as before.

It will of course be understood that the core may be removed at the same time that a new section of drillrod is added. Heretofore in removing the core-barrel containing a rock core which has been cut and is standing within the same, or when the detached pieces of the core become jammed therein, or when it is necessary to reset the diamonds of the cutting-head, it has been customary to stop the flow of water and remove the entire length of drill-rod from the hole. Vlien a hole is very deep, the removal and replacement of the entire length of drill-rod each time a core is cut and removed occasions agreat delayin thedrillingoperation,andin fact requires more time than the actual drilling of the rock. For instance, when a hole has reached the depth of two thousand feet it requires from eight to ten hours to remove the drill-rod, take out core, and replace said drill-rod. Another difficulty encountered, owing to the stoppage of the flow of water, is that the pressure being relieved from the walls of the hole deposits of quicksand or loose material, through which the hole may pass, are likely to run into the same and retard the drilling operation, and it often occurs that the raising and lowering 'of the drill-rod loosens large detached pieces in the Walls ot the hole and allows theni to fall down within the same and sometimes lodge between the Walls thereof. All of these difficulties greatly impede the drilling of the hole, and to obviate the same I have devised the construction shown and described in this specification, by which a constant iiow of water through the drill-rod is obtained, which flow is uninterrupted during the addition of ngw drill-rod sections, the removal of the core, or under other circumstances.

It will ot course be understood that the apparatus above described operates in the saine manner, whether the dow ot Water is downwardly through the drill-rod and upwardly exterior thereto or whether the water is forced downwardly between the said drill-rod and a casing-tube surrounding it and upwardly through said tube. When the water is directed as last described, it is of course necessary to close the top of the casing-tube about the drill-rod, so as to make a tight joint at this point.

I claim as my inventionl. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional revolving drill-rod, a water-swivel consisting of rotating and non-rotating parts and provided with a valved passage for the drillrod extending through the same, a second Water-swivel consisting of a non-rotatiiig part and a rotating part adapted for attachment to a drill-rod section, and water-supply pipes connecting with both of said Water-swivels, substantially as described.

2. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod, a water-swivel provided with a chuck for attaching the saine to the drillrod and with a valved passage for the drillrod extending through the same, a second Water-swivel adapted for attachment to a drillrod section, and water-supply pipes connected with both of said water-swivels, substantially as described.

3. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod, a Water-swivel consisting of rotating and non-rotating parts and provided with a valved passage for "the drill-rod extending through the same, a packing located upon said rotating part for making a tight joint with the drill-rod sections, and a removable sleeve adap'ted for attachment to the upper end of said rotating part and provided with a packing for making a tight joint with said sections, substantially as described.

4. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod, a water-swivel provided with a valved passage for the drill-rod extending through the same, a removable sleeve adapted for attachment to said water-swivel and provided with a packing for making a tight joint with the drill-rod section passing through the same, a second water-swivel adapted for attachment to a drill-rod section, and water-supply pipes connected With said water-swivels, substantially as described.

5. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod, a water-swivel provided with a valved passage for the drill-rod extending through the same,aremovable sleeve adapted for attachment to said Water-swivel and provided with a packing, and a second Waterswivel provided with a tube adapted to receive the said sleeve when the latter is detached.

6. A drilling apparatus comprising a drillrod, a water-swivel, and a counterbalanceweight connected with the water-swivel, said weight consisting of a tank having a Watersupply pipe and exit-passages, whereby' its gravity may be varied, as desired.

7. A drilling apparatus comprising a drillrod, a Water-swivel, and a counterbalance- Weight connected with'the Water-swivel, said Weight consisting of a tank provided with a Water-supply pipe and with an exit-pipe extending upwardly through the bottom of the tank and adjustable vertically therein, substantially as described.

8. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod, a Water-swivel consisting of rotating and noii-rotating parts and provided With a valved passage for the drill-rod through the same, a second Water-swivel consisting ot rotating and non-rotatin g parts and provided with a passage for a hoisting-rope, a hoisting-rope extending through the said passage, a gripping or other tool attached to said rope,

a tube attached to the rotating part of the s second water-swivel to receive the said tool, and Water-supply pipes connected with both of said Water-swivels, substantially as described.

9. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod, a water-swivel provided with a valved passage for the drill-rod sections extending through the same, a second waterswivel provided with a passage for ahoistingrope, a hoisting-rope extending through said passage, a pulley for the said rope, and a yoke for supporting the pulley connected. by a swiveled joint With the water-swivel.

lO. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod, a Water-swivel provided with a valved passage for the drill-rod sections extending through the same, a second Waterswivel adapted for the attachment of its lower end to a drill-rod section and having a passage fora hoisting-rope, a packing in saidv ICO IIO

12. A drilling' apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod, a water-swivel provided with a valved passage for the drill-rod extending through the san1e,a second water-swivel provided with a passage for a hoisting-rope, a hoisting-rope extending through said passage, a grappling or other tool attached to said rope, a hoisting-rope attached to said lastmentioned Water swivel, and watersupply pipes connected with both of said water-swivels, substantially as described.

13. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod, a water-swivel consisting of rotating and non-rotating parts and provided with a valved passage for the drill-rod sections extending through the same, a second water-swivel also consisting of rotating and non-rotating parts having a valved passage extending through the same and having its rotating part adapted to attachment to a drillrod section, and water-supply pipes connected with both of said water-swivels,substantially as described.

14. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod and a water-swivel provided with a passage for the drill-rod sections extending through the same, said water-swivel comprising a barrel B', a tube C in the lower end of said barrel and adapted for attachment to the drill-rod sections, an external annular flange c on said tube, a sleeve or ring C in the lower end of said barrel surrounding said tube, and a water-supply pipe connected with said water-swivel, substantially as described.

15. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod and a water-swivel provided with a passage for the drill-rod sections extending through the same, said water-swivel comprising a barrel B, a tube C in the lower end of said barrel and adapted for attachment to the drill-rod sections, an external annular flange c on said tube, a sleeve or ring C in the lower end of said barrel surrounding said tube, a packing in said sleeve for making a water-tight joint with the tube, and a water-supply pipe connected with said water-swivel, substantially as described.

1b. A drilling apparatus comprising a siectional drill-rod and a water-swivel provided with a passage for the drill-rod sections extending through the same, said water-swivel comprising a barrel B', a tube C in the lower end of said barrel, a chuck D on said tube, and a water-supply pipe connected with said water-swivel, substantially as described.

17. A drilling apparatus comprising a sectional drill-rod and a water-swivel provided with a valved passage for the drill-rod sections extending through the same, said waterswivel comprising a barrel B', having an annular chamber B4 communicating with a source of water-supply, and a tube C in the l lower end of said barrel and adapted for attachment to the drill-rod sections, said tube extending past said chamberB4 and having ports c adjacent to said chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix my signaturein presence ot' two witnesses.

SAMUEL W. DOUGLASS.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, GEORGE W. HIGGINS, Jr. 

